Feed-regulator for lubricating systems.



G. W. RAMSEY.

FEED REGULATOR FOR LUBRICATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7. 1910.

1,228,700. Patented June 5,1917.

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vFEED REGULATOR FOR LUBRICATING SYSTEMS.

APPLICATION FILEDRJUNE 2, 1910.

Patented June 5, 1917.

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GEORGE W. RAMSEY, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

FEED-REGULATOR FOR LUBRICATING SYSTEMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1917.

Application filed June 7, 1910. Serial No. 565,569.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE WV. RAMSEY,

a resident of Peoria, county of Peoria, State of Illinois, (whose postoffice address is Provident Bank Building, WVashington, District of Columbia,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Feed-Regulators for Lubricating Systems, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates broadly to automobiles and particularly to a lubricating system for automobiles.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a lubricating system for an engine in which syste the amount of lubricant fed is regulated according to the amount of work the engine is doing.

Another object of my invention is to provide a lubricating system for the pistons of heat engines in such manner that the amount of lubricant fed to the pistons is determined both by the speed of the engine and also by the amount of work which the engine is doing.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a lubricating system for machinery such that the amount of lubricant fed is dependent upon the amount of work and also the speed of the lubricated part.

Other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and in part pointed out in the specific. description of structure which follows hereinafter.

The invention will'be more specifically described hereinafter by reference to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application and the scope of the invention will be indicated by the appended claims; in the drawings like numerals represent like parts throughout the specification.

Figure 1 is a vertical elevation of one type of my device.

F ig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation through a portion of the regulating device.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a modification of my device.

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation through a portion of the regulator shown in my modification of Fig. 3.

Referring more specifically to Figs. 1 and 2, the lubrication regulator system therein shown, comprises a small pipe 1, which is connected with the explosion chamber of the engine cylinder 2. T have shown in the drawings but a single cylinder, however, in a multiple cylinder engine it is desirable that each cylinder be connected by means of a small pipe 1, with the regulator, which will hereinafter be more specifically described.

A small pipe connects with a check valve 3, which is constructed to permit a flow of fluids in a direction through the pipe 1, outward from the'engine cylinder 2. A small pipe 4 connects the check valve 3 with a storage chamber 5. The walls of the storage chamber 5 are continued and form a small cylinder 6, the outer end of which is screw threaded. The walls of the cylinder 6 near the storage chamber 5, are perforated b small rows of openings 7, 8 and 9. If the openings in the three rows 7 8 and 9 are all of the same size, it is desirable that the row 7 have a fewer number of openings than the row 8, and that the row 9 have more openings than the row 8 for reasons which will be hereinafter explained. However, the same effect may be secured by having the same number of openings in each row, but making the said openings of proportionately larger size, having a smaller size in row 7.

A piston 10, which may be fitted with piston rings 11 or any other well known man ner of making a piston gas tight in the cylinder 6, is adapted to lie within the said cylinder and is normally held in position by means of a spring 12, such that it acts as a valve to close the outer row of the openings 7. A screw plug 14 is adapted to close the outer end of the cylinder 6 and to regulate the spring 12 in such manner as to predetermine the amount of force necessary to push the piston 10 below the rows of openings 7 8 and 9. A piston rod 15 is provided with lock nuts 16 in order to maintain the piston in a positive-definite relationship when the device is inactive and the machinery is stationary. The plug screw 14 is provided with a lock nut 17 which performs the double function of locking the plug screw 14 in any adjusted position and that of holding a jacketv 18 in position upon the cylinder 6. The jacket 18 is arranged to carry away gases which escape from the openings 7, 8 and 9, and is provided with an outlet pipe 19 which may be connected with a muffler, if the de ice is used for automobiles, or it may open directly into the atmosphere. A

shaft 20, which may be the drive shaft of an automobile or other machinery, or it may be a secondary shaft which is driven from the source of power, carries thereon a gear 21, which gear meshes with a reducing gear 22 upon a secondary shaft 24. The secondary shaft' 24 is provided with a key way with which a key in a cam member 25 is adapted to cooperate in order to positively turn the cam with the shaft 24, at the same time permit the cam to have a longitudinal movement upon the shaft 24. The piston rod 15 is constructed and arranged with a bifurcated outer end 26, which engages a groove 27 in the cam member The said cam member 25 is provided at its outer end with a cam face 28. A lubrication tank 29, which is adapted to contain oil or any other well known lubricant, is provided with the usual piston pump 36, whose piston rod 31 terminates in a bifurcated outer portion 32, which carries a small roller 33, that is adapted to be actuated by an elevated portion of the cam face 28. The positive feed pump and lubricating tank may be of the usual well known construction and form no part of my invention.

The device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, is controlled in its operation by the pressure in the engine firing chamber. However, the rapidity of explosions is also a factor in the operation of. the device. When an explosion takes place in the cylinder of the engine, a small amount of the gas is driven out through the small pipe 1, through the check valve 3, and enters the storage chamber 5 of the dynamometer regulator and exerts a certain pressure against the piston head 10, which pressure is resisted by the coil spring 12. The next explosion in the cylinder, or if the engine be a multiple cylinder engine, the next explosion which occurs in any cylinder, will force an additional amount of gas through the check valve 3 into the storage chamber, thus adding to the pressure which is being exerted against the head of the piston 10. Thus each explosion tending to drive the engine, adds to the pressurein the storage chamber 6 of the dynamometer regu lator until the piston 10 has been forced outwardly against the resistance of the spring 12 sufficiently to pass the first row of open ings 7, and immediately the confined gas within the storage chamber 6 begins to escape out into the jacket member 18. If the engine is working under a very heavy load the gas will be driven into the storage chamber 5 with greater pressure at each explosion of the engine, and if the openings 7 are properly proportioned in area they will not be of sufiicient capacity to permit the gas to escape as rapidly as it is being forced into the storage chamber, therefore, the piston 10 will be driven outward until it passes the row of openings 8 and finally the outer row 9, whichshould be of sufficient size to ex haust any pressure that might be within the storage chamber 5. As the piston 10 moves outwardly it carries with it the piston rod 15, and the piston rod 15 moves the cam member 25 along the shaft 24, toward the lubricating pump 36. In normal position the raised portion of the cam face 28 does not contact with the roller 33, carried by the piston rod 31 of the lubricating pump 36, but immediately as the engine is started, sufficient pressure is brought to bear upon the piston head 10 to move the piston outwardly such that the raised portion of the cam face 28 contacts slightly with the roller 33 on the piston rod 31 and a small amount of lubricant is pumped to the place where the lubrication is desired.

If the engine is working under a heavy load and the piston 10 is driven outward as has been hereinbefore described, the cam face 28 is moved a sufiicient distance such that the roller 33 on the piston rod 31, contacts with substantially all of the raised portion on the cam face 28. Thus it will be seen that when the piston 10 is moved to its extreme outwardlimit, the lubricating pump 30 is working at its greatest capacity. It will therefore appear that by the device hereinbefore described, lubrication may be positively supplied to any desired portion of the machinery, preferably to the engine cylinders, in a manner depending upon two factors, speed of revolutions of the cam 25 and the amount of work which the engine 2 is doing.

As the'particular manner of carrying the lubricant from the pump 36 to the various parts of the machinery are well under-stood and do not form a part of this invention, I have not illustrated the pipes from the oil tank reservoir 29 to the various parts of the bearings.

The device illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, is similar to the structure hereinbefore de scribed, only in that the actuation of the lubricating pump is dependent upon speed and upon developed horse-power in a transmission shaft. In the structure illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, a transmission shaft is formed in two sections, 2'. 6., a forward section 101 and a latter section 102. The forward section 101 is recessed in order to form a hearing' for an extended portion 103, of the latter section 102 of the shaft. The forward portion 101, carries a collar 104, which is fixedly mounted upon the shaft by key means 105, or by brazing or any other well known 0 upon a collar 111. The collar 111 is provided upon its outer face with wedge-shaped teeth that are adapted to exactly conform to the wedge-shaped teeth 106 upon the collar 104. The latter extended shaft 102, some distance from its end, is provided with a screw portion, which screw portion is adapted to carry an open ended cylinder 115, which incloses a spring 116 that abuts against the inner end of the collar 111. The screw portion 11a of the latter section of the shaft 102 is provided with lock nuts 11? and 118, which are adapted to lock the open ended cylinder 115 in any pre-determined position. The collar 111 is formed with an integral band 119 upon its outer surface. A connecting link 120 is provided with a bifurcated outer end 121 which is adapted to fit over the integral band 119. The other end of the connecting link 120 is also provided with a bifurcated end 122, which is adapted to set in a groove 124 in a cam 125 that is carried upon the secondary shaft 126. The cam member 125 is provided with a key member which sits in a groove 112, in the secondary shaft 126, and while it forces the cam member 125 to positively rotate with the secondary shaft 126, it permits a longitudinal motion of the cam upon said secondary shaft. The cam member 125 is provided upon its inner end with a cam face 127, which is adapted to engage a roller 128 carried by the bifurcated outer end of the piston rod 12% of the ordinary lubricating pump 130, which is mounted in the lubricant tank 181. The forward section of the transmision shaft 101 carries a small gear 132, which gear meshes with a reducing gear 184 positively attached to the secondary'shaft 126. -The forward section of the transmission shaft 101, the connecting link 120, and the secondary shaft 126 are all shown as journaled in the bearing 135. As the tubing which connects the lubricator pump with the various parts to be lubricated, does not form a part of my invention, said tubing and said connect-ions have been omitted from the modifications illustrated in Figs. 3 and 1.

The operation of the device illustrated in Figs. 3 and 1 is as follows :When the shaft 101 is transmitting power, there is a tendency of the teeth on the collar 111, to slide by the teeth 106 which are carried upon the collar 1041. This tendency causes the collar 111 to recede and to compress the spring 116. Such a movement of the collar 111 carries the connecting link 120 forward, and the connecting link moves the cam member 125 such that its cam face 127 engages with the roller 128 on the lubricating pump piston rod 121. The amount of actuation of the lubricating pump will be seen to be dependent upon the torsion between the sections of the shaft 101 and 102, and the number of revolutions at which said shafts are revolving. The construction of parts in the torsional dynamometer regulator herein shown, is such that if the square coiled spring 116 be completely compressed upon itself, the teeth on collar 111 will still be unable to pass the teeth 106. This construction is to insure that no matter how heavy the load the shafts 101 and 102 may be required to carry, they cannot fail to transmit this load'because of dis-engagement of the tooth collars.

As many changes could be made in the above described structure and many widely different embodiments of this invention might be made without departing from the scope thereof, the matter contained in the above described structure and shown in the accompanying drawings is to be taken as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I desire it also to be understood that the language used in the claims is intended to cover all generic and specific features of this invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which as a matter of language might fall therebetween.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a source of power, a lubricating pump, means for actuating said lubricating pump, and means distinct from the pump actuating means and operatively connected with said source of power and said actuating means in such manner that the amount of actuation of said pump is determined by the amount of work being done by said source of power.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a source of power, a lubricating pump, said lubricating pump including a pump cylinder and a piston operative in said pump cylinder, a'piston rod connected with said piston, means comprising a cam for actuating said piston rod, means for regulating said actuating means, the arrangement and construction of parts being such that the adjustments of said regulating means is dependent upon the work being done by said source of power.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a source of power, a shaft operatively connected with said source of power, a lubricating pump, actuating means for said lubricating pump, said actuating means comprising mechanisms operatively connected with said shaft, determining means operatively connected with said source of power and said actuating means, said determining means being constructed and arranged in such manner that the amount of actuation of said lubricating pump is determined by the amount of horse power delivered from said source of power.

4. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a source of power, a

power shaft operatively connected with said source of power, a secondary shaft, gearing mechanism operatively connecting said power shaft and said secondary shaft, a cam member operatively mounted upon said sec ondary shaft, a lubricating pump comprising a pump cylinder, a piston rod operatively connected therewith and adapted to engage with said cam member, and means operatively connected with said source of power and said cam member in such man ner that the effectiveness of said cam member is dependent upon the amount of horse power delivered from said source of power.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a main drive shaft, a secondary shaft, gearing mechanism operatively connected with said main drive shaft and said secondary shaft, a container for lubricant, a lubrication pump operatively connected with said container, said lubrication pump comprising a pump cylinder, a piston operative in said pump cylinder, a piston rod connected with said piston, 'a cam member separably mounted upon said secondary shaft and cooperating with said pump cylinder, a source of power, means operatively connected with said source of power and with said cam member in such manner that said cam member is moved upon said shaft to varying positions there on, said movement being determined by the amount of horse power delivered by said source of power.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a source of power, a drive shaft, a pressure reservoir operatively connected with said source of power, a lubrication pump, means for-actuating said lubrication pump, means connecting said pressure reservoir and said actuating means in such manner that the effectiveness of said actuating means is dependent upon the pressure in said pressure reservoir.

7 In a device of the character described, the combination of a source of power, a main drive shaft, a lubrication pump, a pressure chamber, means connecting said pressure chamber with said source of power, actuating means for said lubrication pump,

said actuating means being operatively connected with said main drive shaft, and means for determining the amount of actuation of said lubrication pump, the actuation of said last mentioned means being dependent upon the pressure in said pressure chamber.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a source of power, a container for lubricant, a pump for pumping lubricant from said container, and means distinct from said pump and operatively connected with said source of power in such manner that the amount of lubricant discharged from said container is dependent upon the horse power delivered by said source of power, said means comprising a cylinder having a piston controlled by the pressure in said source of power.

9. In a device of the character described, the combination of a source of power, a container for lubricant, means for discharging lubricant from said container, and means distinct from the previously mentioned means and operatively connected with said source of power in such manner that the amount of lu- Y bricant discharged from said container is dependent upon the horse power developed by said source of power, said means comprising a cylinder having a piston controlled by the pressure in said source of power.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination of a source of power, a container for lubricant means for distributing the lubricant from said container to points desired to be lubricated, and means distinct from the previously mentioned means and operatively connected with said source of power in such manner that the rate at which the lubricant is distributed is dependent upon the horse power delivered by said source of power, said means comprising a cylinder having a piston controlled by the pressure in said source of power.

11. In a device of the character described,-

the combination of a source of power, a container for lubricant, means for distributing said lubricant topoints of use, and controlling means distinct from said distributing means and operatively connected with said source of power and said distributing means in such manner that the rate of distribution is determined by the horse power delivered by said source of power, and means for varying the efi'ective operation of said controlling means.

12. In combination a source of power, a pump mechanism, actuating means for said pump mechanism operatively connected with said source of power whereby said pump mechanism is driven by said source of power, and means comprising an independent pressure cylinder and piston operatively connected with said source of power and said actuating means in such manner that the effective operation of said pump is dependent upon the amount of work being done by said source of power.

13. In a feed regulator in combination, a source of power, a container for liquid, means operated by said source of power to remove the liquid from said container, and devices distinct from said means and controlled by the said source of power to regulate the effective operation of the said means.

14:. In a feed regulating mechanism in combination, a source of power, a supply of liquid, means to remove the liquid from said supply, and devices distinct from said means.

to cause the liquid to be removed in proporupon the operation of said source of power tion to the Work developed by the said for determining the rate at which the liquid 10 source of power. is discharged from the said container.

15. In a device of the character described,

the combination of a source of power, a -GEORGE RAMSEY container for liquid, devices for discharging WVitnesses:

the liquid from the container, and means J. ADOLPH BISHOP,

distinct from said devices and dependent M. B. NICHOLS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

